Grimmette and Martin had a combined time of 1 minutes, 27.641 seconds, just 0.089 seconds ahead of the Germans. The victory was their seventh in World Cup competition, an American record.

Grimmette and Martin also became the U.S. leaders in international medals, with 32 since the 1996-97 season.

"It feels good to do it here," Grimmette said. "It always feels good to beat the Germans, because they're formidable competitors. You know you're doing something right when you beat them."

Germany swept the women's race, nine months after accomplishing the same feat in the Winter Olympics.

Sylke Otto, who set the Utah Olympic Park track record of 42.940 seconds in her Olympic victory, didn't approach that speed on a sun-soaked track slowed by warm weather. Yet she led both runs handily to win in of 1:28.352.

Silke Kraushaar, the Olympic bronze medalist, was second, followed by Games silver medalist Barbara Neidernhuber.

Otto's victory extended Germany's unbeaten streak in World Cup competition to 34, a reign that dates to November 1987.